Ivymount's actions a disservice to community

With respect to the ongoing Ivymount/Beverly Farms Children's Center Debate, whether or not Ivymount considers itself "quasi public" is not the main consideration. What many residents of the community object to is the idea that an entity that serves the local community (BFCC) is being displaced by an entity that serves students that reside across multiple counties and states.

Finding high-quality, affordable child care in our area is difficult; finding a child care center that can care for a child with even mild special needs is near impossible. I speak from experience. Our son was dismissed from two other local day care facilities, neither of which were willing or able to make more than a passing effort to accommodate him, before we found BFCC.

The relationship between Ivymount and BFCC has been mutually beneficial. It has provided BFCC staff with the opportunity develop skills necessary to accommodate children with special needs, as well as providing former Ivymount students meaningful employment.

Children of all abilities need a place where they can be nurtured and given the chance to grow. We believe that Ivymount's actions will be a disservice to the students of both institutions as well as the surrounding community.